On the evening of August 31, 2025, a catastrophic earthquake struck Afghanistan, visibly affecting the nation, with Kunar province bearing the greatest loss. Villages were destroyed, families were displaced, and thousands of survivors were left without food, shelter, or medical assistance. 

Behind the statistics are real human experiences: mothers looking for food for their children, fathers attempting to rebuild walls that have fallen down with no tools but their hands, and children dealing with the reality that their homes are no longer there, nor are their family members. The catastrophic event has rendered so many Afghan families hopeless and in desperation, and in urgent need of support.

Watch the video: 

Heartbroken for my people in Kunar after the devastating earthquake. I’ve launched a GoFundMe to support the victims every donation can help rebuild lives. Please stand with us. 🙏💙https://t.co/PEcwlIGDF8 pic.twitter.com/YmVcN0JJwK

— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) September 2, 2025

Rashid Khan’s Heartfelt Appeal After Kunar Earthquake

Afghanistan's cricket icon, Rashid Khan, shared in his anguish for his people in Kunar, "I am shattered by the reality I see in the scenes of destruction." He launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the victims in Kunar, asking his worldwide fanbase and wishes well to donate. "Every penny counts, and you can help rebuild lives," Rashid implored, adding, "Let's stand together in times like this."

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Alongside Rashid Khan’s effort, the Afghan Cultural Society (dba Afghan American Home) has also stepped forward to coordinate relief. For years, the organization has supported Afghan communities in times of hardship, and today, it is once again mobilizing aid.

With your support, families in Kunar and beyond can receive:

• Emergency food and clean water

• Temporary shelter and warm blankets

• Medical care for the injured

• Comfort and dignity for grieving families

The journey to recovery will be a difficult one, but if we turn hope into action, it's possible that hope can rise out of the ashes. Each offering is more than a generous donation; it is a message to Afghan families that they haven't been abandoned and that the world still stands in solidarity and support with them.

Now is the time to stand together, whether it is through the GoFundMe of Rashid Khan or the relief campaign through the Afghan Cultural Society (or any organization of your choice). Your generous donations can help bring a glimmer of light in the darkest of times.

On behalf of the Afghan people, thank you for your generosity, prayers, and support.

Finally, after weeks of anticipation, the schedule for the 17th edition of the Asia Cup 2025 has been officially released, sparking excitement among cricket fans across the continent. While India retains its hosting rights, due to political tensions, all matches will now be played at neutral venues in the UAE—primarily Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Afghanistan, who are becoming increasingly known for their fearless style of play and growing stature in world cricket, will now be looking to make a real dent in the tournament. Afghanistan's best finish in their Asia Cup history was in 2018, when they almost reached the final, finishing as runners-up in a Super Four match against India. In the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup, Afghanistan was unable to progress beyond the group stage due to the close defeats they suffered in a tough group. As they head now into 2025, they will want to convert those missed opportunities into wins.

Afghanistan’s Asia Cup 2025 Schedule

The Asia Cup 2025 will be conducted between September 9 and September 28. Afghanistan is part of Group B, which also includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong. The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Four stage, and the best two from there will meet in the final. Here's Afghanistan’s group stage schedule:

See Also: Asia Cup 2025: Bangladesh's full match schedule with dates and timings revealed

Asia Cup 2025 – Super Four Stage Schedule

Final arrangements are being made for a tri-nation T20I series involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with an official announcement expected as soon as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Dhaka concludes. The series will be marketed as a preparatory event for the next edition of the Asia Cup in 2025, so the teams have the chance to prepare for when they return to the Gulf region.

Originally, Afghanistan had planned to tour Pakistan in August for a bilateral T20I series, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proposed to transition it into a tri-nation T20I series in the UAE. This proposal seemed to be well received by the respective boards, particularly noting the advantages of playing in the UAE in preparation for a major continental event, given the geographical and climatic surroundings.

Sources have suggested that the final arrangements for this series are at the end stages and are being worked on at the ACC's Annual General Meeting (AGM) currently in Bangladesh, and assuming the sessions are completed, they will formally announce the full schedule and locations.

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ACC Meeting With Full Support: UAE Tri-Series Probably in August

The ACC AGM demonstrated strong participation with 24 of 25 member nations confirming they would be present, well above the required 13 member nations in order for the Nomination to be taken as a vote. This will be seen as a diplomatic victory for the ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, particularly after the major boards like the BCCI, Sri Lanka Cricket, and Oman Cricket indicated they were hesitant about the venue choice. India, although they weren't comfortable, agreed, and virtual representation through BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla shows a willingness for the discussion in a much more conciliatory manner.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan Cricket Board spokesman Sayed Naseem Sadat earlier confirmed that the team is set to play a T20 and ODI series this year against Pakistan, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and the UAE. He noted that the team had initially planned to play three T20Is against Pakistan in August fixtures that could now become part of the UAE-hosted tri-series. The tournament, if confirmed, is expected to generate solid fan interest and provide valuable match practice ahead of a crucial Asia Cup campaign.

The 2025 Tri-Nation Series is a highly anticipated cricket competition between Afghanistan A, Ireland Wolves, and Sri Lanka A. The competition will take place in the UAE, more precisely in the Sheikh Zayed Stadium of Abu Dhabi, from April 13 to May 2, 2025. Since the competition brings fans of cricket from across the globe, it is very important for viewers to know where and how they can watch live matches.

Match Schedule:

Here’s a quick look at the match schedule for the tournament:

1. April 13, 2025: Sri Lanka A vs Ireland Wolves
2. April 15, 2025: Sri Lanka A vs Afghanistan A
3. April 19, 2025: Sri Lanka A vs Ireland Wolves
4. April 23, 2025: Sri Lanka A vs Afghanistan A
5. April 25, 2025: Final match (Top two teams)

Streaming Information:
The media rights for the 2025 Tri-Nation Series in the UAE have been acquired by some of the largest sports media networks, allowing more fans across the world to be able to view their favorite teams play.

2025 Tri-Nation Series in UAE: Broadcasting Details

Afghanistan's cricketing star Azmatullah Omarzai has surged to the number one position in the ICC ODI all-rounder rankings creating a record for the emerging star The 24-year-old who turns 25 later this month put up a superlative performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 taking him to the No.1 position

Omarzai’s breakthrough campaign included a match-winning five-wicket haul against England and a crucial half-century against Australia showcasing his prowess with both bat and ball His efforts saw him leap two places in the rankings amassing a career-best 296 rating points and dethroning fellow Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi who now sits in second place

AZMATULLAH OMARZAI BECOMES THE NUMBER 1 ALL-ROUNDER IN ODIs. 🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/lNCDHPazBw

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 5, 2025

Afghanistan’s Stars Shine in Champions Trophy

Omarzai was not the sole Afghan player to take huge leaps in the rankings His teammate Ibrahim Zadran had an incredible tournament, especially with a stunning 177-run innings against England in Lahore The 23-year-old moved up 13 places to reach the top 10 of the ODI batting rankings taking 10th spot with 676 rating points

In bowling, New Zealand's Matt Henry also made a name for himself for his excellent Champions Trophy outing shifting three spots to sit in third position on the ICC ODI bowling rankings The Kiwi quick is now only behind Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana and South Africa's Keshav Maharaj who sit first and second respectively

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Major Movements Elsewhere in the Rankings

India's Axar Patel also had a stunning climb of 17 places to reach 13th position among ODI all-rounders with a career-best 194 rating points Meanwhile experienced batsmen Steve Smith and Kane Williamson demonstrated their class rising to 16th and 29th in the batting rankings respectively

The return of Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami was another feature as he climbed three spots to 11th with 609 rating points England's Jofra Archer climbed 13 spots to 19th and South Africa's Marco Jansen climbed nine spots to 18th also making notable gains in the bowler rankings

India's Batting Dominance Continues

At the ODI batting rankings table India's Shubman Gill held on to his No 1 ranking and veteran superstar Virat Kohli moved up to fourth after his Player of the Match effort in the Champions Trophy semi-final vs Australia in Dubai

With Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket gaining momentum Omarzai’s ascension to the No.1 all-rounder spot signals a new era for the team As they continue their journey on the international stage the young all-rounder’s performances will be crucial in shaping Afghanistan’s future in the sport

The historic one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Noida has been marred by severe outfield issues, leading to four consecutive session delays. Despite minimal rainfall, the match has turned into a logistical disaster as the poor drainage system and substandard outfield conditions have prevented any play from happening so far.

Wet outfield and poor drainage delay play for two days

Day 1 of the Test witnessed a complete washout, with no balls bowled due to the wet conditions on the field. Although there was brief rain in the evening of Day 1, no precipitation followed thereafter. However, the outfield remained waterlogged, and the groundsmen were unable to prepare the field for play, delaying the start of Day 2 as well. The situation led to frustrations as the field remained unplayable for an extended period.

#Afghanistan vs #New Zealand, Only Test at Greater Noida, #AFG vs NZ, Sep 09 2024 - Live #Cricket Score
Match delayed by a #wet #outfield
12.25pm We hear that the New Zealand team bus has arrived now pic.twitter.com/NufmxwQ9ua

— Abdul Jabbar (@AbdulJabba44077) September 10, 2024

Bizarre masures to dry outfield raise eyebrows

On Day 2, in a desperate attempt to get the game started, the ground staff resorted to unusual methods. Visuals showed them cutting grass patches from drier parts of the field and placing them over the wet areas. Additionally, fans were brought onto the ground to speed up the drying process. Despite the efforts of 20-25 workers, including 15 outsourced personnel, the conditions remained far from ideal. The first session ended without a toss being conducted.

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Reports also revealed that the ground management brought in five super soppers—two automatic and three manual—to help dry the field, but the process was slow and ineffective. To make matters worse, the covers used to protect the pitch were rented from a local tent house, indicating the venue’s lack of readiness for hosting a Test match. The lackluster preparations have tarnished the reputation of the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, which was hosting its first-ever Test match.

New Zealand star Mark Chapman showcased his talent in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 during the match between the Dambulla Sixers and Colombo Strikers on Thursday, July 16.

In the final game of the league stage, Muhammad Waseem, playing for Colombo, was aggressive and took on pacer Nuwan Pradeep, keeping his team in the hunt for 124 runs. Waseem hit Pradeep for two boundaries and a six in the first four balls of the second over, showing no signs of slowing down.

However, Pradeep made a crucial comeback, ultimately leading to Waseem’s dismissal, thanks to an outstanding effort from Mark Chapman. On the fifth ball of the over, Waseem attempted to clear mid-on but failed to make solid contact. That’s when Chapman sprang into action.

Positioned at mid-on, Chapman sprinted to his right and executed a perfect dive, taking a spectacular catch with both hands to send Waseem packing. With this wicket, the Colombo Strikers found themselves struggling at 16/2.

Following Waseem’s dismissal, Nuwan Pradeep continued to shine, taking wickets at regular intervals and applying pressure on the opposition. After Waseem’s quick 15 runs, the Colombo Strikers collapsed, quickly finding themselves at 88/9.

Skipper Thisara Perera contributed a valuable 30 runs to keep his team in the game, but ultimately, the Strikers were bowled out for just 95 runs, losing the match by 28 runs.

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We gave our all to set a big score – Mohammad Nabi

Dambulla Sixers skipper Mohammad Nabi, who was named Player of the Match for his 40-run performance, reflected on his innings and acknowledged the challenges posed by the tricky pitch. He expressed that the team aimed to post a big score but faced setbacks with early wickets. Speaking after the match, he shared:

“It was a tough game on a tricky pitch. We did our best to set a big total, but losing early wickets hurt us. If I had been able to bat through the last four overs, it could have changed the outcome. I focused on waiting for bad balls and playing simple cricket—watching the ball closely, especially the legspinner’s googlies and flippers.

“On this pitch, the googly and flipper were the most difficult to face. In our huddle, we discussed the need to defend 47 runs and aimed to bowl stump to stump. It’s been a fantastic tournament, and I enjoyed leading the team, but unfortunately, we couldn’t qualify. Overall, it was a great experience, and I truly enjoyed it.”

Noorali Zadran, a prominent player in Afghanistan’s top-order batting lineup, has officially retired from international cricket as of Thursday, March 7th. His decision comes ahead of the ongoing first ODI against Ireland at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Zadran’s last appearance for Afghanistan was in the recent one-off Test against Ireland. Although he struggled in the first innings, scoring just 7 runs off 27 balls, he showcased resilience in the second innings, accumulating 32 runs off 72 balls with three boundaries. Despite his efforts, Afghanistan lost the match by 6 wickets, marking an unfortunate end to his career at the top order.

Noorali Zadran Retires from International Stage

Debuting in the one-off Test against Sri Lanka, Zadran, accompanied by his nephew Ibhrahim Zadran, has been a stalwart for Afghanistan in white-ball cricket. With 51 ODIs under his belt, he amassed 1216 runs at an average of approximately 25, including one century and seven half-centuries. Additionally, he represented Afghanistan in 22 T20Is, scoring 586 runs at a strike rate exceeding 100 and an average surpassing 26.

Zadran’s Test career comprises two matches, wherein he accumulated 117 runs at an average of about 30, with a highest score of 47. At the age of 35, he bids farewell to the sport, having been a part of significant victories for the Afghanistan team throughout his tenure.

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Notably, Zadran marked his debut for Afghanistan against Scotland in April 2009, scoring 45 runs as an opener. One of the highlights of his career was his half-century against India in the 2010 T20 World Cup.

As Zadran exits the international stage, the Afghanistan Cricket Team paid tribute to his contributions by offering him a guard of honor ahead of the first ODI against Ireland. The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed Zadran’s retirement and expressed gratitude for his service, sharing a heartfelt post commemorating his remarkable career.

In addition to his prowess with the bat, Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, is renowned for his occasional humorous remarks that often amuse fans. Though not intentionally comical, his laid-back style of expression seldom fails to bring a smile to the faces of supporters.

This characteristic was evident during India’s clash against Afghanistan in the third T20I in January. Rohit Sharma had endured a rough patch in the series, being dismissed for ducks in the first two games of the three-match series. Notably, this was his first T20I series since the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Expectations were high for the captain to make an impact in the shortest format of the game, but he struggled to get off the mark in the initial matches. Eager to open his account in the third T20I, Rohit found himself in a light-hearted dispute with the on-field umpire when the latter awarded leg byes after the right-handed batsman seemingly struck the ball for a boundary in the first over.

Confident that he had made contact with the ball, Rohit questioned the umpire’s decision, only realizing the ruling after the over had concluded and he glanced at the scoreboard.

Rohit Sharma Shares Comical Exchange with Umpire: The Inside Story

“Hey, Viru, was that given as leg-bye on the second ball? The bat made significant contact,” Rohit Sharma quipped to the umpire.

Reflecting on the incident during the inauguration of the third edition of the Khel Mahakhumbh in Bilaspur district on Tuesday (March 5), Rohit Sharma shed light on the humorous exchange.

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“When you’ve registered two ducks, getting that first run becomes crucial. The ball had indeed struck the bat and reached the boundary, but the umpire perhaps didn’t see it and awarded leg byes instead. I don’t usually check the scoreboard while batting; my focus remains on my innings,” Rohit Sharma explained.

“After the over, I happened to glance at the scoreboard and noticed it still showed ‘Rohit Sharma on zero.’ I thought, ‘But I hit a boundary; why does it still say zero?'” he added.

Noor Ahmad, a promising spinner, has been handed a one-year ban from participating in ILT20 due to a breach of contract. This action was taken by the International League T20 after finding the young cricketer guilty of contractual violations. Initially part of the Sharjah Warriors in the league’s inaugural season, Ahmad was offered a contract extension by the franchise but declined to sign the necessary papers, leading to subsequent repercussions.

In response to Ahmad’s refusal to extend his contract, the Sharjah Warriors brought the matter to the attention of the tournament’s governing body, prompting an investigation into the issue. The three-member Disciplinary Committee of the International League T20, consisting of Chief Executive Officer David White, Col.

Contractual Controversy: Noor Ahmad’s Ban from ILT20

Azam, and Zayed Abbas, meticulously reviewed the case, engaging with both the Sharjah Warriors management and Noor Ahmad himself. Following a comprehensive examination of all available evidence, the committee concluded that Ahmad was in violation of his contractual obligations, resulting in a 12-month ban being imposed on him.

While deliberating on the duration of the ban, the committee initially contemplated a 20-month suspension. However, it came to light that Ahmad was a minor at the time of signing the contract, and his agent had failed to adequately inform him about the terms and conditions therein. Consequently, 8 months were deducted from the original ban period, resulting in the final one-year suspension.

Cricketing Journey Continues: Ahmad’s Path Beyond the Ban

Despite this setback, Ahmad is set to continue his cricketing journey, as he has been signed by the Gujarat Titans for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2024 season. At just 19 years of age, Ahmad has already made his mark in various T20 leagues worldwide, representing teams such as the Comilla Victorians, Durban’s Super Giants, Melbourne Renegades, Quetta Gladiators, and Trinbago Knight Riders.

His impressive record boasts 87 wickets in 82 T20 matches, with an average of 24.93 and an economy rate of 7.27, showcasing his potential as a valuable asset in the fast-paced world of T20 cricket.

SEE ALSO: IPL 2024 likely to start from March 22